Hey Readers, Laying it on thick in this chapter. I wanted to demonstrate the dance of power, where words became weapons, and desire was a tool of manipulation. So far we have seen it control Mila and now she uses it in the same fashion over others. I also wanted to explore the power between two strong-willed characters. Wondering how far Mila is willing to go to secure her victory.
TYLERFuck, fuck! What the hell did she do to me?!?!My hands gripped Mirabella’s hips, each thrust more desperate than the last. The raw need to reclaim some semblance of control, to drown out the echoes of Mila’s voice, drove me to the brink. But no matter how hard I pushed, how rough I became, it wasn’t enough. I was chasing a high that Mirabella, for all her beauty, just couldn’t give me.“Yes, Alpha. Right there. Pleas–”“Don’t talk,” I growled, before thinking of Mila again.Her intoxicating words lingered in my mind like a curse. Every syllable she’d spoken, every sultry promise, had wrapped around my thoughts, pulling me deeper into a vortex of frustration and desire. It was maddening how she’d played me, leaving me hanging, aching for her touch, only to walk away as if she hadn’t just upended my world. Even now, as I buried myself into Mirabella's willing and wet pussy, my mind was elsewhere—imagining the scenarios Mila had described, the way she’d take control, dominate me i
GABESeeing Mila tonight, looking as stunning and confident as ever, sent a jolt of pleasure through me. I couldn’t come to terms with why she made me feel this way. It wasn’t like I had ever gotten over my feelings for her, but surely being mated should’ve blocked the effect she had on me at this moment.“I don’t understand,” Spencer said in the back of my mind. “She smells just like mate.”“Don’t worry. We’re getting to the bottom of this,” I said, not feeling confident that Spencer wouldn’t act out. “I’m sure it might go away when we lay some things to rest.”At least that was what I was hoping for. Ever since she’d been back Mila’s been unpredictable, and tonight was no exception. Her timing, though, couldn’t have been worse. Gregory and my parents were just speaking about the collaboration with Mila and Arianna, with Gregory not being shy about his disdain for Mila’s involvement. I knew the real reason behind it, though–Mila had blown off his meeting when he tried to recruit her.
ARIThe noise immediately hit me as I walked into one of Julia’s father’s clubs, Heat. It felt fitting given the day I’d had. First, I’d had to swallow the news that I was going to be sharing the spotlight with someone like Mila. Then, the bitch had the nerve to blow off my meeting when I’d been trying to be cordial.The plan was to head home after that disaster, but I was too pissed. And if Gabe mentioned anything about Mila and the contract, I might just lose it. I couldn’t let that happen. Gabe still saw me as his angel, and I needed to keep it that way. For better or worse, he was my ticket out of the contract with my father, but as soon as I could, I’d break away from him too. I was going to build my own legacy. I’d prove to everyone that I wasn’t my father—I’d be better.I turned to make my way to the VIP room when I heard my name. Amber was waving me over with that annoying bright smile, knowing damn well I couldn’t ignore her without making it look like the bad guy. And she lov
GABE - Ten years agoIt was just after the New Year and I was laying in my room, staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts I couldn’t escape. Every time I closed my eyes, all I saw was Mila–her smile, the way her eyes lit up when she was excited, and the way she looked at me when she thought I was looking. Then the memory was darkened by the way she looked at me that day I broke up with her at school. The memory played on a loop in my head until it was impossible to think of anything else.We had just returned from the Mount Frita ski resort, a tradition I once enjoyed but now resented. Every year, the Moras joined us, and this year, I played my part–the perfect son, the ideal mate, the mask firmly in place. It was unbearable. The laughter, the family outings, the forced conversations, the constant pressure to look content when all I wanted to do was scream. I didn’t want to be there.A constant ache settled in my chest, a reminder of what I lost. I kept telling myself that ending thing
MILA“I’m sorry, I’m sorry…”And there goes the tears. Gabe immediately moved to Noah’s side as I tried to comfort him as best as I could. “Hey, Noah, it’s okay,” I said gently, keeping my voice calm and reassuring. “It was just an accident.”Noah shook his head. “Mommy’s going to be mad. I’ll be in big trouble.”“I promise you won’t be,” Gabe said. “Everyone knows things can get a bit messy when eating spaghetti. Sometimes you can’t control where the sauce goes, right?”Noah blinked, tears falling down his face as he looked between all of us with uncertainty. “Your dad’s right,” I said, picking up the spaghetti on my lap, making a playful face when I let it plop onto my plate, sauce going everywhere. “See? Sometimes you can’t control where the sauce goes. No harm done, ok?”Noah’s lips twitched into a small, nervous smile before burying his face in Gabe’s shoulder. Gabe lifted Noah in his arms before turning to look at my dress.“I’m sorry about the dress,” Gabe started. “Please, let
MILAA loud noise from behind us caught our attention, breaking the charged moment between us. I was thankful, as I watched the workers apologize and move on to cleaning up the mess.“So, what do you say?” Gabe asked.“I… I can handle it,” I said aloud, trying to ignore Rayne’s constant remarks and focused on getting out of here. “It’s just a bit of sauce.” My voice didn’t sound nearly as convincing as I hoped, and Gabe’s amused smirk told me he knew it.“Mila,” he said, his voice low, almost teasing as he kept his hand firmly on the door, preventing me from opening it. His gaze locked on mine, sending a ripple of something down my spine. “It’s really no trouble. I insist.”"Let him insist," Rayne hummed again, not letting up for even a second. "Come on, Mila. Have some fun before you tear things apart. Listen to how he says your name. Imagine him whispering it when we—"Imagine it? Oh, I had already dreamed of many different ways to make him say my name and a few included bondage. But
MILAGabe immediately stepped in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking Arianna’s view, but I could still feel the weight of her glare. Though, Gabe’s attempt to shield me only seemed to pissed Arianna off even more.“Arianna, it’s not what you think,” Gabe said, his voice calm but edged with urgency.Arianna’s laugh was bitter, cutting through the air like glass. “Not what I think?” she hissed. “Don’t you dare try to spin this. I felt it!” She pointed an accusing finger at me, her voice shaking with pain and fury. “This… homewrecker planned all of this, didn’t you?”“Arianna, enough,” Gabe said, his voice a bit firmer than before. “You can talk to me, not herRayne stirred inside my mind, practically purring at the authoritative edge in Gabe’s voice. “Mmm, I like this side of him. Tell him to keep going,” she teased, her desire bubbling beneath my skin. I mentally pushed her aside, but it didn’t help much—her feelings bled into mine, making it harder to focus.“I am talking to you,
MILAThe sound of the fire alarm blared through the chaos, sending models, workers, and cameramen scrambling in every direction. I stood frozen in the middle of the madness, trying to make sense of it. People were rushing for cover, yelling, pushing–chaos all around me. None of this was supposed to be happening.Two weeks. That’s all I’d had to pull together a new location and a fresh concept after Tyler tipped me off about what Mirabella knew concerning Arianna’s “plan” to embarrass me. The classic–stealing someone else’s idea and showcasing it first–was basic and so Arianna. I expected that level of sabotage and was prepared for it. But this? This went beyond petty. How the hell did she know about this? My mind raced as I watched the scene unfold–fabrics were soaked, displays ruined, models in full panic mode as the sprinkler system continued to drown everything I’d worked on. The entire “Bring Me to Life” theme was perfectly ruined. “Well, this is… interesting,” a voice beside me
MILAThe room stilled.“What is this?” Gregory barked, looking around the room. I noticed how he subtly narrowed his eyes at Emily.Good. I wanted him to think it was her. For now. Murmurs filled the room as everyone’s attention was glued to the screen. It flickered again. Then came the audio–his voice. Clear. Calm. Cold.And damning.“The boat needed to go. Collateral damage is part of the price when you want to clean house. And the girl? She’s just like her parents–too dangerous to be left alive.”Silence swallowed the room. Then chaos.“That doesn’t prove anything,” Gregory shouted. “That could be anybody.”But the screen answered him. It split into two windows: one showed Gregory pacing in a private study, the second displayed spreadsheets, maps, and message logs–each one marked with timestamps and code names.The proof was overwhelming.Someone screamed. A councilman stood. Arianna’s mouth dropped open. Emily turned toward Gregory, the smile never leaving her face, even as she wi
MILAFrances and his assistant poured over the portfolio like it was a rare manuscript. I shifted in my seat, resisting the urge to glance at my watch again. There was too much riding on today–too much to still do.Frances finally looked up, his eyes twinkling behind those sleek, gold-framed glasses. “This is truly something special,” he said, tapping the edge of the page. “And the technology?”I straightened a bit, proud. “Smart fabric. Reactive threads that shift color based on light exposure and body temperature. The effect is subtle, elegant—like your vintage diamond collection. Sophisticated, but with presence.”Across the table, Emily’s jaw tensed. I caught the flicker of annoyance in her eyes and smiled, just a little.Frances chuckled. “Indeed, Mademoiselle. You’ve captured the season in a way that feels... alive.” He flipped another page, his gaze sharp but admiring. “I must admit, I’m surprised. After everything that’s happened lately, I expected something more... reserved.”
MILAThere was no gentle buildup this time. No teasing smile. No calculated flirtation. Gabe kissed me like he meant to ruin me–with a hunger that stole the air from my lungs. One hand tangled in my hair, tugging just enough to make my body jolt with need. I gasped, but he swallowed the sound, deepening the kiss, his tongue sliding against mine in a battle I was already losing.He lifted me effortlessly from the chair, setting me down on the desk as if he’d been waiting to do it since the moment he walked in. His body pressed against mine, all muscle and heat and quiet dominance.“See?” he murmured against my lips, voice dark and full of promise. “You like it when I take control. Don’t you?”And damn him–I did. My body answered before my mouth ever could, arching into him, fingers clawing at his shirt to pull him closer.“Answer me, Mila.”“I… do,” I breathed, the words escaping like a confession.Those words cracked something open in him. He kissed me again–deeper, rougher–his hands
MILATyler was, somehow, unexpectedly my hero.Not only did he make sure the publication printed the correct draft of the Aliz magazine–the one with my real Summer collection and not the tragic sabotage Lena tried to pass off–but he also made sure Lena got demoted. Now she was stuck shooting staged waterfalls and hotel breakfast buffets for the travel catalogue division. Honestly? Served her right for trying to cross me.Apparently, I had Amira to thank for that little coup.I still didn’t know how I felt about her. The woman switched sides like it was Fashion Week and loyalty was just another trend. But one thing I did know? She was in love with Tyler. Hopelessly, painfully in love. That might’ve made her dangerous–but it also gave me leverage. And I wasn’t above playing that card if I had to.“So… you think this will work?” Camila’s voice broke through my thoughts and I remembered what I was doing… or trying to do.“I don’t know,” I sighed, moving all the mockups for my fall collect
ARIThe diamond necklace with the crystal pendant glinted in the mirror, catching the light like it still mattered. Like it still meant something. Gabe had given it to me for a birthday present. Placed it around my neck himself. Told me I looked like someone no one would dare cross. It had to mean something, right? A gift that rare didn’t come without weight.So I wore it today–not for sentiment, but strategy.Let him see it. Let him remember. Let him regret.But he didn’t. He barely blinked. No hesitation, no flicker of guilt. Just another command over the phone and a condescending smirk on his lips.“Nothing a blow dryer can’t fix,” Gabe said, like I was already a mistake he was eager to forget.I could’ve slapped him. I should’ve. But I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction. It would’ve meant I still cared.I’d lose a hundred battles before I let him see me lose the war.When I stormed into my father’s office, he didn’t even glance up from his damned ritual–always washing his hands
GABEI barely heard the door open behind me before Arianna’s scent hit the air–a soft, artificial sweetness that never sat right. I didn’t turn around. I was on the phone, my voice quiet.“Just put on a suit. I need you to go over there and fix this. She doesn’t need to deal with this right now. So please handle it.”Arianna moved closer as I flushed the urinal and moved to the sink to wash my hands.“You know the symbols on the outside of the door are there for a reason,” I said, not glancing at her.“Were you talking about Mila just now?” she asked, arms crossing as she leaned against the door. I ignored her and walked towards the office. It's been a busy couple of days with the move back to the Mora company. “You’re really moving on that fast, huh?” Arianna asked, following me. “The ink on the divorce papers is still wet.”“Nothing a blow dryer can’t fix,” I smiled, hoping to get rid of her, but the look on her face told me otherwise. “Arianna, don’t start.”Her lip curled. “Disg
MILAI stared between the both of them before Lena spoke.Lena’s eyes widened. “You. Why–why are you here?”“Oh, relax,” I said, stepping inside and locking the door behind me. The click echoed louder than I expected. “How convenient. Two traitors. One hotel room. The universe really said, ‘Here you go, babe.’”Neither of them had time to react before I walked straight to Lena, grabbed a fistful of her hair, and slammed her face into the wall. Hard enough to sting, soft enough to not get us arrested for homicide. Balance.She gasped, tried to say something. I yanked her back, then shoved her forward again.“Don’t speak,” I hissed. “You’ve already said enough with those sabotage photos.”Behind me, I heard Amira shifting toward the door. I didn’t even turn around.“Take one more step and I will throw you out that window. I’m not saying you’ll die, but gravity’s a bitch and bones snap real easy from the ninth floor.”Amira froze.“Smart girl,” I said.Honestly from this height, it would
MILA“…just waiting for answers. Why did this have to happen? What could have prevented an incident that took two of the most important people in my life?” Alpha Gregory’s voice cracked just enough to sound human. He gripped the podium like it might run away if he let go, flashes from the cameras popping like fireworks behind a funeral. Arianna stepped up beside him, touched his arm–perfectly timed, perfectly staged. A father-daughter moment, photogenic grief included.But I didn’t care about them. My eyes drifted past them to Gabe. He stood stiffly off to the side, holding Noah like the only anchor he had left. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere else–expression blank, shoulders tight. I hadn’t seen him since he left the orphanage a couple weeks ago. No calls. No updates. We were both busy–him with God knows what, me trying to salvage my image from the dumpster fire of the fashion show. Oh, and also: still no sign of my dad. The meeting with Emily that was supposed to bring ans
MILAI stirred awake to the sound of birds and the sensation of warmth that had me feeling so good. A strong arm draped over my waist, the steady rise and fall of a familiar chest beneath my cheek. My heart stuttered as the scent of spice and dark chocolate filled my lungs–Gabe. It was oddly comforting, dangerously so. A moment of peace I had no business indulging in.Something tickled my nose. I cracked one eye open to find yellow flowers brushing against my face. That was when the realization hit.We were lying in a flowerbed.Panic jolted through me. I shot up, sending Gabe’s arm tumbling off of me. My breath came fast as I scanned our surroundings. Shit. Jenna’s going to kill me. Gabe groaned, shifting onto his back, his hand searching for mine. “Five more minutes,” he mumbled, his voice sleep-heavy, unbothered.I smacked his chest, ignoring the way my fingers tingle from the contact. “No, no, no. Get up. We fell asleep in a flowerbed. Jenna’s going to be pissed we messed up her